Table 7. Summary of the osteological synapomorphies for the Aplocheilidae (sensu [48]), Nothobranchiidae and Rivulidae and comparisons with †Kenyaichthys gen. et sp. nov. compiled from [1], [3], [48], [49], [50], [55], and [61].

Synapomorphy (author and character number)	Apl	Noth	Riv	†Ken
Ventral process of anguloarticular expanded (vs. not expanded) ([48], char. 22; [61])	+	+	0	+
Supracleithrum and posttemporal coossified (vs. not fused) ([3]; [48], char. 76; [50], char. 48)	+	+	0	+?
Posterior tip of the ascending process of premaxilla curved medially (vs. plan) ([3]; [48], char. 15; [50], char. 2)	+	+	0	0
Bifid epipleural ribs (vs. rod-shaped epipleural ribs) ([3]; [49], char. 98; [55], char. 18)	0	+	0	0
Keel-shaped lateral process on middle part of terminal centrum (vs. smooth terminal centrum) ([1], char. 20)	0	+	0	0
Twisted and reduced lacrimal (vs. flat with wide posterior rim) ([3]; [50], char. 31)	0	+	+	+
Distinctive neural spine on first vertebra narrow or broad (vs. neural spine on first vertebra absent) ([49]; [50]; char. 34; [61])	0	+	+	+
Shortened laminar proximal end of parhypural (vs. not reduced, overlapping terminal centrum) ([1], char. 12; [50], char. 39)	0	+	+	P
Long first dorsal fin ray attached to two proximal radials, preceded by one or two short fin rays (vs. single long first dorsal fin ray attached to two proximal radials) ([3]; [48], char. 94; [50], char. 44)	0	+	+	+
Completely attached orbital rim (vs. ventrally attached) ([3]; [48], char. 103; [50], char. 58)	P	+	+	n.a.
Preural vertebra 2, haemal spine slightly wider than haemal spines of preural vertebrae 4 and 5 (vs. distinctively wider) ([1], char. 19; [50], char.43) (but see also text)	0	+	+	P
Posterior border of distal portion of premaxilla straight (vs. indented) ([49], char. 2; [50], char. 1)	0	0	+	+
Ventral process of maxilla bent (vs. straight to slightly curved) ([48], char. 4)	0	0	+	n.a.
Coronoid process of dentary narrowed (vs. broad) ([49], char. 13; [50], char. 5)	0	0	+	0
Ventral tip of autopalatinum not reaching the quadratum (vs. long, reaching quadratum) ([3]; [48], char. 28; [50], char. 8)	0	0	+	0
Thin, C-shaped preoperculum (vs. robust and L-shaped preoperculum) ([48], char. 36; [50], char. 13; [61])	0	0	+	0
Reduced uncinate process of third epibranchial (vs. elongate process) ([3]; [48], char. 56; [61])	0	0	+	n.a.
Pronounced retrorse process of lateral ethmoid (vs. narrow, wide or absent) ([48], char. 63)	0	0	+	n.a.
Reduced lateral rim of frontal (vs. not reduced) ([48], char. 69; [50], char. 29)	0	0	+	0
Minute dermosphenotic (vs. elongate or short) ([3]; [48], char. 73)	0	0	+	n.a.
First postcleithrum absent (vs. present) ([3]; [48], char. 77; [61])	0	0	+	n.a.
Branchiostegal and opercular membranes united (vs. separated) ([3]; [48], char. 102; [49], char. 164; [50], char. 57; [61])	0	0	+	0
Frontal scales arranged circularly around a central A-scale (vs. transversely arranged) ([3]; [48], char. 104)	0	0	+	n.a.

+, present;

0, absent; P, polymorphic; n.a., not applicable;?, uncertain; Apl = Aplocheiloidei; †Ken = †Kenyaichthys; Noth, Nothobranchiidae; Riv, Rivulidae.